Board Governance Certification
Help your school board overcome challenges and advance institutions’ continuous improvement.
Enhance school board effectiveness
Throughout our history, Cognia has worked with school boards to ensure that they understand how best to support their schools and systems. Leveraging this expertise, we have developed a first-of-its-kind board governance certification to recognize school boards, giving them the opportunity to proactively commit to continuous improvement alongside the schools they serve.
Our research-based standards for effective school board governance empower school boards to:
- Collaborate effectively as a school board and with school and system leaders
- Have a clear vision for the institution
- Establish and sustain a culture of ongoing improvement
- Center student learning and data in decision-making
- Communicate and partner with their community
First institution to earn Cognia Board Governance Certification
Tuscaloosa City Schools’ Board of Education has earned Cognia Board Governance Certification, recognizing its commitment to effective leadership, continuous improvement, and student success. Hear the superintendent and board chair reflect on this milestone achievement.
Start your board governance certification journey
Board governance certification is not a grade—it is a recognition of a school board’s operational effectiveness and commitment to ensuring high-quality education. Cognia experts will provide resources and guidance to support your school board’s ongoing improvement efforts to meet Cognia Board Governance Certification standards. These standards focus on the school board’s role in their institution’s culture, leadership, community engagement, and student success.
Three-phase process
1. Reflection and Analysis
See the roadmap to certification
Introducing Cognia’s Board Governance Certification—an innovative path to continuous improvement for school boards.
Discover how your board can strengthen oversight, align with performance standards, and drive student success through Cognia’s first-of-its-kind certification. Learn about the three-phase process and how this certification supports strategic planning, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making.
Key takeaways:
- Understand the certification process and its benefits
- Explore how this certification process can serve your school board, whether you’re a public, nonpublic, or charter institution
Facilitated by Cognia: Dr. Andre Harrison, Dr. Adina Victor, and Dr. Michael Bratcher
Webinar chapters:
00:04 – Board Governance Certification Overview with Dr. Andre Harrison
09:44 – Board Governance Certification & Non-Public with Dr. Adina Victor
14:04 – Roadway to Board Governance Certification with Dr. Michael Bratcher
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Cognia Accreditation and Cognia Board Governance Certification?
The Cognia Accreditation process evaluates an institution’s overall ability to provide high-quality education and commit to ongoing improvement. Cognia Board Governance Certification evaluates whether and how a school board has fulfilled its role in overseeing and guiding an institution’s effective operation and continuous improvement.
Does my institution need to be accredited to pursue Cognia Board Governance Certification?
Being accredited is not required to pursue the Cognia Board Governance Certification.
How long does certification last?
Cognia Board Governance Certification is granted for a six-year term. Institutions pursue renewal through the certification review process at the end of each six-year cycle.
What training is available to me?
Cognia offers training for boards seeking to understand their roles and responsibilities in their system’s continuous improvement process. This training can occur at any stage of the continuous improvement journey, whether in preparation for a Cognia Engagement Review, after the report identifies areas for improvement, or during a time of conflict or complex challenges.